New Mexico Highlands University will hold its Homecoming parade at 10 a.m. this Saturday. This year’s theme is “Paint the Town Purple – Viva Highlands.” Parade entries may be picked up at the Office of Campus Life in the Student Center or by calling 454-3201, 454-3495, or 454-3590.

By Kasie Hunt
and Nancy Benac
The Associated Press
DENVER — Little more than a month from Election Day, Republican Mitt Romney is barreling out of the first presidential debate energized by a solid performance that telegraphed his determination to take it to President Barack Obama with gusto. The president, intent on keeping his momentum from stalling, is warning that his GOP rival’s policy prescriptions for a fragile economy are more fantasy than reality.

By Susan Montoya Bryan
The Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE — A proposed $350 million transmission project is one step closer to opening northeastern New Mexico to more solar and wind energy development thanks to a decision by federal regulators.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission this week approved a request by Lucky Corridor LLC that clears the way for the Colorado-based company to start selling transmission rights and services to energy developers on what would be 93 miles of beefed-up power lines.

A single-vehicle accident Sunday night claimed the life of a 35-year-old man who devoted his life to coaching students both on and off the field.

Josh Garcia, West Las Vegas Middle School’s football coach, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, about 100 yards north of Louden, on the city’s northwest side, Las Vegas Police Chief Christian Montaño said.

“He was pinned in the vehicle, and it took about an hour to extricate him,” the chief added.

A 19-year-old man was stabbed early Saturday morning during a brawl outside of a home on the 900 block of Tilden.

A Las Vegas police officer came upon the scene at 1:24 a.m. Saturday while patrolling the area. He saw at least 15 people on the street and what appeared to be a fight, according to a preliminary police report on the incident.

SANTA FE — Colleges and universities are banking on a statewide advertising campaign to help avoid a repeat of two years when New Mexico voters rejected a property tax-backed statewide bond proposal to finance renovation and construction projects for higher education.

The private fundraising foundations of colleges and universities have contributed nearly $261,000 to a political committee advocating voter approval in the general election of $119.4 million for infrastructure projects at campuses across the state.